Lonni Miller-Ryan Receives Republican Nomination For Mayor

WAYNE, N.J. — Lonni Miller-Ryan received the nomination for the Wayne mayorship Tuesday night.

The Passaic County Regular Republican Organization chose their candidates for local office. Joanie Walsh, Matt Rosenthal and Jim Marrocco were chosen to run for the three at-large council seats up for grabs this year.

Miller-Ryan said she is "honored to represent Wayne and see tonight's vote as a vote for a new vision for Wayne." She will face off against Chris Vergano in the June primary. She announced her intention to run for mayor earlier this month.

Vergano is in his 10th year as mayor. He announced at a council meeting in January his intention to run for re-election. A lifelong Wayne resident, he became mayor in 2008 when he was appointed to replace Scott Rumana, who was elected to the state Assembly. Vergano was elected to his first full term in 2009 and to his second in 2013.

"After serving as Mayor for 10 years, I am not about to let the political bosses of Wayne decide who will be our next mayor," Vergano said. "I will definitely be running for Mayor in the Republican Primary and will let the voters of Wayne decide. I have established a very successful track record serving as mayor including bringing a municipal tax decrease last year and spearheading the economic redevelopment of our community."

Miller-Ryan was first elected to her council seat in 2010. She was re-elected in 2013.

Joseph Schweighardt and James Jimenez are the other at-large council members. Both Republicans, it is unknown if they will run for re-election.

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